“Prisons in Yemen” assesses the Yemeni prison system by examining how individual aspects of the prison system work together to affect the prison system as a whole. Since the events of the 2011 Arab Spring, Yemen has been in a critical political transition that has led to discussion of measures needed to achieve peace and security and improve the rule of law. Authors Fiona Mangan and Erica Gaston conclude that prison system reform “must be at the core of any strategy for improving rule of law institutions.” Overcrowding, substandard prisoner care, and the current political climate have made Yemen’s prisons vulnerable to frequent rioting, radicalization, and terrorist recruitment. In order to determine necessary reforms, Mangan and Gaston, along with a team of Yemeni and international researchers, visited thirty-seven detention facilities throughout Yemen to evaluate the Yemeni prison system’s organizational structure, the legal framework for prison system management, infrastructure, and security, as well as prisoner well-being.
Organizational Structure and Legal Framework: Gaston and Mangan find that, although Yemen’s Prison Authority Act and Prison Act (the laws) focus on rehabilitating prisoners and preserving their rights and provide a strong basis for prison management; the laws’ key weakness is lack of implementation and enforcement. Specifically, the laws provide for classification of prisoners and staff to ensure appropriate security and accommodation for different groups of prisoners; however, infrastructure deficiencies and overcrowding prohibit proper classification and segregation of the prisoners. This lack of implementation, combined with pervasive organizational problems such as lack of prison guard training, lack of control by prison directors over facilities and inadequate staff skills and training inhibit the proper function of the Yemeni prison system. To rectify these problems, Gaston and Mangan recommend an expansion of Yemen’s prison law “to cover all core aspects of prison management” and the implementation of specialized prison guard training.
Security: Gaston and Mangan also find that “security in the Yemeni prison system is universally weak” due to security issues such as inmate control of cell keys, sale of contraband to inmates by prison guards, and the carrying of firearms within prison cells. However, many of these security concerns could be corrected by implementing basic security procedures and protocols.
Infrastructure: In addition to security concerns, infrastructure limitations severely handicap Yemen’s ability to hold detainees safely and humanely. Overcrowding, inadequate sewage and water and inadequate outdoor recreation spaces negatively affect prison security and prisoner well-being. In order to remedy these problems, Gaston and Mangan recommend that review of outdoor recreational space is necessary in the short-term, and the rehabilitation and restructuring of facilities is necessary in the long-term.
Prisoner Well-Being: Finally, Gaston and Mangan find that “overcrowding, serious deficiencies in bedding and accommodation, lack of hygienic bathroom and washing facilities, and availability of water were issues across the central prison system.” As one of the most crucial issues affecting prisoner well-being, overcrowding requires urgent attention. Any facility over 150 percent capacity should stop receiving inmates and release orders should be issued for inmates who have overstayed their sentence. Other recommendations for improving prisoner well-being include prioritizing water concerns in consultation with relevant state authorities, implementing a cleaning and hygiene aspect as a part of the prisoner’s routine, and reviewing sanitation infrastructure and design.
NOTE: This summary is produced by the Rule of Law Collaborative, not by the original author(s).